“You can have all the information you want in the world. If you don't have the people raising questions and lookin...

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Be diligent in seeking the truth

“We
don't go into journalism to be popular. It is our job to seek the truth and put
constant pressure on our leaders until we get answers.”
–Helen Thomas

One of the highlights of my career
as a journalist was meeting with and learning from the great White House news correspondent Helen Thomas who advised me to always be tough on politicians when
interviewing them, and never shirk the truth or what needs to be shared from
what a political leader is saying.

While today's politicians would probably list her and her questioning as "rude," she said she never thought of her questions that way. “You need to ask what needs to be asked and be tough,” she advised.

Thomas was the first female officer
of the National Press Club, the first female member and president of the White
House Correspondents' Association and the first female member of the Gridiron
Club. She wrote six books; her last, with co-author Craig Crawford was 2009’s Listen
Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do.Born on this date in 1920, she got into journalism during World War II and remained active in writing and reporting for the next 65 years. She died
in 2013 at age 92.

Shortly before her death and
saddened by trends

in 21st Century journalism, she wrote, “Everyone

with a cell phone thinks they're a photographer. Everyone with a laptop thinks
they're a journalist.But they have no
training, and they have no idea of what we keep to in terms of standards, as in
what's far out and what's reality. And they have no dedication to truth.”

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About Me

In addition to years of writing of news, sports, and feature stories, both as a journalist and in public relations, I've authored seven books (and counting :), a one-act play, and three songs. I also contributed to two published anthologies.

My newest book, the historical novel And The Wind Whispered, has earned top reviews around the nation and a Silver Award in the Historical Fiction category at the 2016 Colorado Book Awards. Check it out on Amazon or Goodreads. It also is available ion both print and e-book formats through all major book outlets.

I enjoy public speaking on the topics of “Telling
an Effective Story,” “Effective Communication,” and “Storytelling – From
Journalism to Creative Writing" and have been an invited speaker at recent Historical Novel Society and Historical Writers of America national conferences. You can access an interview with me on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3qNiwWshAM

I retired from Augsburg College (and my wife from St. Olaf College) in 2013 when we moved to Colorado, where I've been working on my books, writing for Broadlands Living magazine, and doing freelance marketing and p.r.